Success Series - Abbey and Annie

Welcome to another installation of our Success Series! Every Friday we will post the story of a pet who has found their forever home through HSEC. If your animal was adopted from HSEC and you want them to be featured on the blog, contact us here: humanesocietyofec@gmail.com 

Abbey and Annie

(and Sam!)

by Sam Dinner

Abbey

Abbey was turned into the Humane Society in January of 2010 after living in a home for 7 years! The transition from a home to a shelter is never easy on an animal, let alone a senior one. Three months of sitting at the shelter getting over looked because of being black and older tugged at my heart. I decided to give Abbey a break from the facility and foster her a few days.

This was typical of me while working at HSEC. I would constantly bring different dogs home in order to give them a break and to also see how they did in a home. Learning about their behavior in a home better helped me find the perfect match for their future forever home! The plan was to take Abbey for a few days, well days turned into weeks and then someone came into HSEC wanting to adopt Abbey. Normally this would be awesome but Abbey won a chunk of my heart and I just couldn’t imagine her in someone else’s family.  And so our family began!

Abbey and Judy

After I gave Abbey some time to adjust more to her new home I decided to get back into fostering! Abbey tends to be an older grump when it comes to new adult dogs coming into her home. So fostering was narrowed down to baby puppies and kittens, adult cats, small dogs and submissive big dogs. Abbey likes to be alpha most of the time. Abbey and I fostered many animals. The first cat we fostered was Judy, an extra large black kitty. It was love at first sight. One day I came home to find Abbey using Judy as a pillow and they were fast asleep together.

Annie

A few fosters later, a baby kitten arrived at the facility, later named orphan Annie. We all immediately noticed something not right with her eyes. This kitten was malnourished and very angry about her current situation. Luckily she was small enough to learn how to trust humans! After being seen by our wonderful board vet, Dr. Eldridge, Annie was diagnosed with Congenital Upper Eyelid Agenesis. This is a birth defect that left her without upper eyelids. With no eyelid to protect her eyes, her hair rubbed against them and would gradually damage her cornea. The condition is painful and would have eventually damaged her sight and lead to blindness.  Until funds were raised and surgery was an option, Annie needs lubricant in her eyes twice a day to keep them from getting dry and to act as artificial tears. This was both painful for Annie and me. She hated it and I hated having to restrain her for it.

Abbey and Annie

Annie and Abbey starting forming a very special friendship while waiting for surgery. At first, Annie was afraid of a 65 pound dog but with some time they began to get along. Not only did they get along but they played!! Most wouldn’t believe how a 5 pound kitten and a 65 pound dog would play but boy did they have fun! Annie would linger by Abbey making sure that tail was up high for some kitty butt sniffing and then she would paw at Abbey’s face until she would play. Annie would then roll on her back while Abbey gave love nibbles and frisked her up and down!

Thanks to generous HSEC donors we were able to raise money to pay for Annie to have surgery! The procedure included grafting skin from under her eye to use and create the new eyelid. A specialist at Animal Eye Care in Cary, NC did the surgery. Oh and if you were wondering, the pain that Annie had with her eyes DID NOT slow her down!! She was a crazy energetic kitten who got into everything! The surgery was done and Annie looked a bit unusual for a while but is now looking much better!

Annie thanks her generous HSEC donors!

While Annie was away for surgery and her multiple vet visits, Abbey was miserable! She missed her kitty and wanted her back! Annie even went to the facility on some weekends to try and find a home but she hid in her litter box and didn’t enjoy new people. Today she will still hide when I have a visitor but will come out with time! Those qualities don’t show well when public come in looking to find a outgoing companion.

In January after graduating ECU and getting a big girl job, I was planning for a move. Abbey begged me to take Annie with us and I told her she that it wouldn’t be the same without her. So after having Annie in foster care with us for 10 whole months and only knowing us her whole life, Abbey and I decided to adopt Annie! The 3 of us recently moved to Cary, NC and we are all adjusting well to the new home. Their favorite pastime is looking out the window together.

Annie had a checkup at Animal eye care on Feb 7 and we were told that her eyes are doing great and that she doesn’t need to come back anytime soon!! Although her eyes will never look like a normal cats eyes, they are no longer causing her pain! Yippee!!

With a new home and a new start for Annie now, I believe she has changed so much! Just recently my dad came to visit me and he was here 2 months ago in my old apartment. 2 months ago, Annie was nowhere to be seen and wouldn’t even come out from the closet or under the bed because she heard a low deep scary voice. This past weekend, Annie was all over my dad! Slept next to him, let him pet her and was very curious and stayed out the entire weekend!! Huge progress since I had been the only one in my home that she didn’t hide from!

Our family is complete……….. for now ;)

2012 Top Ten

2012 was a great year for us here at the HSEC blog. We love doing our part to spread the word about the remarkable pets and people at HSEC. So let's take a look back at the posts that helped to make this year so special - our top ten posts from 2012! We'll also give you a sneak peak into what you can expect in 2013.

Whether you're waiting for the ball to drop or recuperating from an excess of celebration, we hope you enjoy looking back with us, and perhaps catching up on a post or two that passed you by.

10. Microchipping: Bring Your Buddy Home

Curious about microchipping, the process that can return a lost pet via a tiny permanent implant? Check out this post for all of the details. Microchipping increases the chance that your lost pet will be safely returned. The procedure is quick and relatively painless, and is commonly performed at events about town by groups like Spay Today.

In 2013... look for a series of posts about what to do if your buddy goes missing.

9. Feline Immunodeficiency Virus: Fiction vs. Fact

Read this post to get the facts about Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), a commonly stigmatized disease that attacks an infected cat's immune system. The condition is not a death sentence, nor is it as communicable as some have suggested. Cats with FIV can and do live long and healthy lives.

In 2013... look for a post about seizure disorders in cats and dogs. If you would like us to discuss a particular condition, suggest one in the comments!

8. How to Greet a Strange Dog

Every dog is different, but they all speak a common language - one that many people are prone to misinterpret. This post contains vital information for interacting with strange dogs in public. Excellent information for children in particular!

In 2013... look for more posts about animal communication. What are your cats thinking when they look at you, anyway?

7. Annie: Little Cat, BIG Personality!

Annie sporting kitty caps on her claws

Annie is an HSEC superstar - a young cat with Congenital Upper Eyelid Agenesis, a birth defect that left her without upper eyelids. Despite this, Annie is as playful and friendly as any kitty can be. Since the original August post, Annie has undergone successful eye surgery, funded with the money YOU raised! She is no longer in danger of going blind from her condition. Annie is still available for adoption.

In 2013... look for more posts featuring HSEC residents, current and former. In January we'll kick off with weekly success stories to get the year started right!

6. Pack Up Your Paws Part I and Part II

This two-part series explore the ins and outs of taking your pets on vacation. From considering whether it is a good idea to bring the animals along, to travel safety, to what to do once you get there, these posts cover it all. If you're already dreaming of that perfect summer vacation, start planning now!

In 2013... look for a post about local dog-friendly locations and events, so you and your buddy can stay-cation with style!

5. I Found A Stray - Now What?

We've all seen strays on the side of the road and felt moved to help them. But what do you do when you find a stray? What are the procedures for surrendering the animal to an organization that will care for them? How should you try to contact the owner? This post answers these common questions, plus more. A great basic informational source.

In 2013... look for posts about the inner workings of HSEC and how the organization functions.

4. Pet People Are Healthy People

It's not just an old wives' tale. Pet owners really do live happier, healthier lives. Get the scientific info in this post, and take a look at the New Leash on Life program, which pairs dogs from animal welfare organizations with prison inmates.

In 2013... look for posts about another way that dogs can keep you healthy - as running buddies! We'll help you and your furry couch potato get in shape for the upcoming Canine Crawl 5k on March 17th.

3. Giving Pets as Gifts

This recent post has already jumped up the charts to become one of the most popular of 2012. Maybe you've already promised someone a puppy for Christmas, or you're thinking ahead to all those birthdays and special events in the upcoming year. Read this post, and learn how to gift animals the right way.

In 2013... look for posts about making the decision to adopt at all stages of life, from college to retirement.

2. Feral Cats - Wild Animals, Not Stray Pets

Those kitties hanging out around the dumpster might not be lost pets. It's likely that they're ferals, cats who have not been raised around humans and are not friendly. Ferals are a controversial subject and can cause real problems in a community. This post outlines suggestions for handing this issue and takes a look at local groups that assist this unique animal population.

In 2013... look for more posts featuring our local partners in the animal welfare community.

1. Flea and Tick Season 2012

Far and away, our most viewed post in 2012 was this entry about the last flea and tick season, which was made even more virulent by the preceding mild winter. Since we're in the midst of another gentle winter, it's a good time to review this information. It's not that cold outside - in a climate like ours, pets need flea and tick prevention all year round.

In 2013... look for more seasonally relevant information, including an upcoming post about winter safety.





We hope your year was as good as ours! Thank you for all of your support over the last twelve months, and we hope we've earned it again for the next twelve. In return, look for us to keep connecting you to the latest from HSEC... in 2013 and beyond!

(Almost) Wordless Wednesday - Annie

Annie has a rare birth defect that caused her to be born without eyelids. But she's sleeping peacefully because YOU helped to fund the surgery that will prevent her from going blind!

THANK YOU!

Annie - Little Cat, BIG personality!

Annie is a rambunctious, playful five month old kitten who was born with Congenital Upper Eyelid Agenesis - basically, this is a birth defect that left her with no upper eyelids. With nothing to protect her delicate eyes, her fur rubs against them and is gradually damaging her cornea. The condition is uncomfortable, and will eventually damage her sight and lead to blindness.

Little Miss Annie needs surgery now so that there is no permanent damage to her eyes. The operation will be performed by a specialist at Animal Eye Care in Cary, NC. This procedure is finicky and complex, involving a graft that will create the new eyelids. We need $815 to cover the cost of her care.

If successful, her longterm prognosis is very good. She will never look completely "normal", but she is not expected to look significantly different than she looks now. We think she looks like a little cartoon kitty! Right now she requires artificial tears, but has no other treatment.

Sweet Annie loves to romp and get into mischief (just ask her foster family)! We're very lucky that we have the opportunity to help her now before her condition becomes more debilitating.

You can see more photos of Annie and some of our other residents at our imgur page here.

Please consider a donation towards Annie's care. This link will take you to her ChipIn page, where you can make a donation right to her! You can also click on the Donate button on the top right of the page.
 

And for whatever you can give, we are very, very thankful.